From the Desk of Denise Garlick

Highlights from the House FY’ 13 Budget

Environmental Affairs:

Department of Environmental Protection:

Operational Line item 2200-0100 was increased $400,000 from $24,923,735 to $25,323,735.

Line item 2200-0107 was increased $100,000 from $275,000 to $375,000-this line item is for technical assistance, grants and support of recycling and solid waste master plans and climate protection plans.

Line item 2210-0105 was amended to add language for the Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI) program at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and that not less than $1,629,860 to be made available to TURI. TURI provides training, research and grants assistance to communities and businesses.

Department of Fish and Game:

Line item 2300-0101 was increased $22,583 from $394,391 to $416,974. This is for the division of Ecological Restoration whose mission is to restore and protect rivers, wetlands and watersheds.

Line item 2310-0316 was increased $500,000 from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. This is for land purchases directly related to the wild lands stamp program.

Department of Agricultural Resources:

Line item 2511-0100 was increased $335,000 from $4,192,811 to $4,527,811. The additional funding is for the Buy Local campaigns ($200,000), apiary inspections statewide ($35,000) and larvicide control projects in Plymouth and Bristol counties ($100,000).

Line item 2511-0105 was increased $500,000 from $12,500,000 to $13,000,000. The funding is for the emergency food assistance program.

Outside section-establishes an Agricultural Inspection and Infrastructure Trust Fund to ensure the long-term competitiveness and viability of Massachusetts agriculture through an Agricultural Innovation Center and to expend on integrated pest management, spay, neuter programs and animal rescue and shelter programs.

Department of Conservation and Recreation:

Line item 2800-0100-language added that funds shall be expended for cleanup of Pilayella algae

Line item 2800-0700 was increased $500,000 from $299,778 to $349,778 for the Office of Dam Safety.

Line item 2810-2041 retained revenue account was increased $1,000,000 from $9,000,000 to $10,000,000

Department of Public Health:

Food Protection Program (4510-0020) receives $375,000

Carry out mandated food inspections and related activities that identify and prevent food-borne illness that could potentially harm public health.

DPH Critical Operations and Essential Services (4510-0100)

Receives $17,488,126.To support fixed costs and administrative and programmatic personnel at the Department of Public Health (DPH) who perform core public health functions, such as reducing disparities in health care and monitoring and inspecting nursing homes, food safety, and water quality.

Community Health Center Services (4510-0110)

Funded at $1,065,634,will continue tosupport capacity-building activities and technical assistance projects to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of community health center operations and reduce disparities in the community.

Environmental Health Assessment and Compliance (4510-0600)

Receives $3,313,711 to protect public health from a variety of hazardous environmental exposures through inspecting swimming pools, identifying and eliminating sources of poisons, and ensuring a safe and wholesome food supply in the Commonwealth.

Nuclear Safety Inspection and Monitoring (4510-06165)

Funded at $1,764,716 to carry out activities to ensure regulatory compliance at the state’s licensed nuclear reactors.

Prescription Drug Registration and Monitoring (4510-0616)

Receives $1,237,580 to support the Administration’s efforts to improve the analytic capability of the current Prescription Drug Monitoring program and to upgrade the prescription drug monitoring program computer software to take advantage of current technologies that include a secure, internet-based application, as well as support the regular activities of the drug control program.

Division of Health Care Quality and Office of Patient Protection (4510-0710)

Receives $6,277,277to fund the patient safety & adverse event reporting system; the determination of need program; the drug control and monitoring program; the certification of stem cell research facilities; and organ transplant services.

HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Services (4512-0103)

Funded at $32,097,810 for direct care services for persons living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS in the Commonwealth. The prevention-focused education, counseling, testing and clinical services help reduce the number of new HIV infections, identify new cases, as well as maintain and improve the health status of those living with HIV/AIDS.

Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (4512-0200) R

Receives $77,539,595tosupport the division within DPH that oversees substance abuse and gambling prevention and treatment services throughout the Commonwealth. These funds will ensure that evidence-based services which improve the lives of at-risk individuals will continue, and that individuals and families with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders receive integrated treatment and stabilization services.

Substance Abuse Step-Down Recovery Services (4512-0201)

Receives $4.8 millionto support a comprehensive array of step-down services within the continuum of substance abuse services and maintains services to help ensure long-term care for individuals recovering from substance abuse.

Substance Abuse Family Intervention and Care Pilot (4512-0203)

Funded at $1.5 million for family intervention and care management services, a young adult treatment program, and early intervention services for those who are dependent on or addicted to alcohol or controlled substances.

Compulsive Gambling Treatment Services (4512-0225)

Receives $1,000,000 to provide statewide support and treatment services for individuals and families suffering from compulsive gambling disorders through licensed clinics. This account also supports a 24-hour hotline and referral service as well as an education curriculum and certification program for compulsive gambling treatment specialists.

Dental Health Services (4512-0500)

Funded at $1,401,531 for the prevention and control of oral disease in the Commonwealth. This account supports the promotion of culturally appropriate oral health education, prevention measures like fluoride, and oversight of oral health activities of local boards of health. Services also provide oral health care to individuals with development disabilities and the Forsyth Institute’s Center for Children’s Oral Health.

Family Health Services (4513-1000)

Receives $4,763,911 for FY13to promote comprehensive family planning services for low-income women, men, and adolescents. Programs include HIV counseling and testing and community-based health education and outreach services. The account also supports the Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention which provides expert advice to diagnose and manage poisoning cases over phone 24/7 hours a day 365 days a week.

Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) Program (4512-1002)

Receives $12,366,617 for the programs aimed at limiting food insecurity and poor health for children through the provision of foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

WIC Program Manufacturer Rebates Retained Revenue (4513-1012)

Is funded at $26,355,000to support an increased number of WIC participants, as required by federal regulation and to reflect infant formula price changes under the WIC program. Revenue is generated from rebates on infant formula purchased through the program.

Early Intervention Services (4513-1020)

Receives $27,023,610tohelp children with diagnosed disabilities and those at risk for developmental delays acquire skills critical to their future success. This is the Commonwealth’s most cost effective program for children birth to age three with developmental delays

Universal Newborn Screening Program (4513-1023)

Receives $68, 938 to identify hearing loss and provide timely interventions to avoid potential adverse consequences associated with hearing loss, such as significant delays in both language and social development.

Statewide and Community-Based Suicide Prevention (4512-1026)

Receives $3,832,926 to support intervention, post-intervention and surveillance activities and to fund the implementation of the statewide suicide prevention plan.

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute (4513-1098) receives $125,000

To fund a statewide support service providing survivors of homicide victims, including outreach services, burial assistance, and grief counseling.

Office of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (4513-1111)

Receives $3.4 millionto maintain eligibility for the four federal matching funds obtained in FY12. This account will continue to support a range of fundamental public health programs that prevent and control the most common preventable health conditions that are the largest drivers of health care costs. Funding provides preventive screenings for the early detection and treatment of many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. It supports Mass in Motion, heart disease and stroke education, and Lehman patient safety and medical error reduction initiatives, and PKU education and support services. This account is essential to manage chronic disease and to reduce health disparities across the Commonwealth.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention and Treatment (4513-1130)

Receives $5,511,435to support rape crisis centers, refuge and immigrant safety and empowerment (RISE) programs, and the domestic and sexual violence prevention and crisis services to the GLBT community. These three major programs provide critical outreach and education to those victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

State Laboratory and Communicable Disease Control (4516-1000)

Receives $11,681,642to fund the critical illness monitoring, testing and response programs that form our first line of defense against environmental hazards and communicable disease. Local boards of health and health departments across the Commonwealth rely on the services of the state laboratory to perform these vital surveillance services. Its public health testing services are available to all of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns.

Vital Records, Research, Cancer, and Community Data (4518-0200)

Receives $616,904to support a new, next day service to provide expedited certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates. Funds will also support increased Registry responsibilities and will prevent delays in registration and issuance gaps in identity verification.

Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Services (4530-9000) are funded at $2,383,080

To provide science-based education in select high-risk communities to prevent primary teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, and early sexual activity among youth.

Statewide Infection Prevention and Control (4570-1502) receives $260,515

To support the department’s efforts to reduce the incidence of health associated infections through education, best practices, data collection and analysis, and reporting in health care settings.

Universal Immunization Program (4580-1000) is funded at $52,879,812

To support the distribution of pediatric vaccines and vaccines to immunize at-risk adolescent, adult, and elder populations. The 1% increase ($657,435) from FY12supports the anticipated inflation for vaccine price increases.

School-Based Health Services (4590-0250) receives $11,332,301

To provide both public and non-public school students vital access to developmentally and culturally appropriate health care that meets the needs of all school children. These programs work to ensure that children’s academic success isn’t compromised by illness.

Tobacco Control Program (4590-0300) receives $4,400,703

To support tobacco cessation efforts. This account funds programs and services designed to prevent youth tobacco use, protect the public from exposure to second-hand smoke, persuade and help tobacco users to quit, as well as to identify and eliminate health disparities related to tobacco use.

Western Massachusetts Hospital Account (4590-0912)

Funded at $16,953,548to support patients needing long-term acute care and respite services. This public health hospital works to improve patient behavior to facilitate transition to other hospital sites and/or facilities

Public Health Hospitals (4590-0915) receives $144,090,926

To support acute and chronic hospital medical care to individuals with limited to restricted access to community facilities and health care.

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Department of Correction (4590-0917)

Receives $4,203,795to support the 28-bed secured unit that manages and treats inmates with infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, TB, and hepatitis C. This hospital is known for its core clinical expertise and interagency collaborations that save the Commonwealth significant financial resources.

Pediatric Palliative Care (4590-1503) is funded at $794,666

To support services that assist eligible children under the age of 19 years with a life limiting illness and their families or guardians to achieve improved quality of life during the course of illness.

Youth Violence Prevention Grants (4590-1506) receives $1.5 Million

To support local programs proven successful in empowering communities to reach out to young people and help them make the decision to turn away from crime and violence and become thriving individuals.

Youth At-Risk Matching Grants (4590-1507)

Receives $1.9 Million for a number of organizations, non-profit community centers, and youth development programs that offer services that give youth the opportunity to succeed. These grants support prevention and counseling services for teen violence, delinquency, dropout, and drug abuse at qualifying Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, nonprofit community centers and youth development programs.

Tewksbury Hospital Department of Developmental Services (4590-2001)

A new account funded at $3,437,342 to cover behavioral health services and short-term medical rehabilitation for DDS clients that will be transferred from the Taunton State Hospital. These funds will enable Tewksbury Hospital to open a new unit to meet the unique needs like physical rehabilitation, behavioral health support, and management of chronic medical illness.

An Outside Section added in the consolidated amendment

Modernizes the physician discipline and malpractice reporting requirements of the Board of Registration in Medicine. The General Laws are amended to close gaps in patient protection and ensure that the reporting system transparently conveys information to patients.

An Outside Section added in the consolidated amendment

Establishes a special commission on chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is established to conduct an investigation and to study strategies to promote public awareness and increase knowledge of the causes of COPD, the importance of early diagnosis, effective prevention strategies, and disease management. COPD is a severe lung disease and is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

An Outside Section added in the consolidated amendment

Prohibits DPH from raising annual licensing fees greater than 100% in one calendar year for vending machines licensed by the department.

An Outside Section added in the consolidated amendment:

Transfers current employees of the Massachusetts Office Victim Assistance (MOVA) within the Attorney General’s Office to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program within the Department of Public Health, maintaining all salaries and benefits as granted while in MOVA.

Elder Affairs:

Elder Protective Services 9110-1636

The House Ways and Means budget increased funding for the Elder Protective Services program from $16.25 million in FY12 to $17.25 million for FY13 and created a commission to study enhancement of these services. Elder Protective Services programs investigate and resolve elder abuse, neglect and financial misconduct cases. It is the only investigative and reporting program for elder abuse in the community.

Adult Day Health 4000-0600

The adoption of the FY12 budget created the Adult Day Health working group to work on finding ways to put this program on a stable financial footing. The working group met through the fall and made recommendations to the Legislature in March. As a result of this work, the House Ways and Means Committee appropriated sufficient funds to maintain this program and implement the working group’s report.

Homecare Programs 9110-1500, 910-1630

Homecare programs help keep frail elders in their homes by providing assistance with daily living activities. The House Ways and Means budget increased funding for the Enhanced Community Options Program (ECOP) by $1.5 million for FY 13 in response to the waiting list for this program, now over 1,000 seniors. The ECOP program serves seniors who are nursing home eligible. During the House budget process, an additional $500,000 was appropriated in the Elder Affairs and Health and Human Services consolidated amendment. This funding for the ECOP program will open up spots in the basic home care program, which also currently has a waiting list.

Elder Nutrition 9110-1900

The House Ways and Means budget included $1.5 million cut from these programs in House 2. These programs, including the meals on wheels program, help to address a number of issues faced by seniors, such as poor diet and food insecurity. Services provided include nourishing meals, nutrition screening, assessment, education, and counseling, to ensure that elders remain in good nutritional health.

Councils on Aging 9110-9002

Through the amendment process, the Councils on Aging received an additional $474,000 for FY13—bringing the formula grants up to $6.42 per elder/year, up from the FY12 formula grant of $6.25 per elder/year. The Councils on Aging provide opportunities for seniors to socialize, learn new skills, exercise and receive support that helps them remain independent.

Personal Needs Allowance 4000-0600

The consolidated amendment ensures that elders in nursing homes and rest homes will continue to retain $72.80 per month for their personal needs. The personal needs allowance is a modest amount reserved from an elder’s income to pay for items not covered by MassHealth, such as dental services, phone calls, newspapers and toiletries.

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities 9110-1660

Through the House budget, NORC programs will receive $214,000 in FY13, level funding from FY12. NORC programs are another way to support elders living independently in the community, while connecting elders to local resources.

Provider Training and Outreach for LGBT Elders 9110-1630

The Governor’s budget and the House Ways and Means budget include language to ensure that LGBT elders receive services appropriately and through trained staff members.

MassHealth Long Term Care 4000-0640

The House budget adds an additional $27.2 million to the account for nursing home rates. Language for incentive payments to nursing homes meeting criteria under the MassHealth Nursing Facility Pay-For-Performance Program is also included.

Housing and Economic Development:

Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development:

MA Cultural Council (0640-0300)

Funding was increased from $5,000,000 to $6,500,000. MCC promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and to contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. Increased funding will be used to focus on three core areas: Cultural Investment Portfolio, STARS in Schools and YouthReach.

Creative Economy Council (Outside Section)

Language was included to change the expiration date for the Creative Economy Council from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2016. The council is responsible for developing a statewide strategy for the enhancement, encouragement, and growth of the creative economy in the Commonwealth and to promote through public and private means responsive public policies and innovative private sector practices.

MAOffice of Travel and Tourism (7008-0900)

$200,000 in funding was included for opening the 11 Visitor Information Centers (VICs) from Memorial Day – Columbus Day. VICs welcome tourists into the Commonwealth and provide important tourism and cultural information to Massachusetts visitors and residents alike.

Regional Tourism Councils (7008-1000)

Funding was increased from $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. Regional Tourism Councils are the “boots on the ground”. They provide valuable information on destinations, marketing and financial support to various tourism institutions and special events across the Commonwealth. For every dollar invested in tourism, returns five. Our investment last year is already paying off with increased revenue.

Zoo New England (7007-0952)

Funding was increased from $3,500,000 to $3,750,000. This will support the Franklin Park and Stone Zoo. Additional funding will be invested in areas that will result in greater short and long-term revenue generation. This investment will enable Zoo New England to build its capacity to develop the necessary operational infrastructure to increase support from non-State sources

Labor and Workforce Development:

7003-0100 Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development $758,649 (Increase of $31,774 from FY12)

7003-0170 It Services for the EOLWD $240,643 (Increase of $359 from FY12)

7003-0200 Department of Labor Standards (Operation) $2,026,178 (Increase of $106,137 from FY12)

7003-0201 Department of Labor Standards $436,580 (Decrease of $16,270 from FY12)

7002-0500 Department of Industrial Accidents $18,905,037 (Decrease of $201,507 from FY12)

7002-0900 Division of Labor Relations $1,835,872 (Increase of $29,982 from FY12)

7003-0605 Mass Manufacturing Extension Partnership $1,225,000 (Increase of $900,000 from FY12)

7003-0803 One Stop Career Centers $4,480,122 (Decrease of $14,345 form FY12)

7003-1206 MA Service Alliance State Service Corps Grants $1,525,000 (Increase of $175,000 from FY12)

7002-0012 Youth at Risk $8,609,158 (Increase of $5,609,158 from FY12)

FY13 House Budget: Education Funding Highlights

The FY13 House budget demonstrates the House’s continued commitment to education, and I would like to thank the Speaker and the Chairman of Ways and Means for their support and leadership. Despite extremely difficult fiscal circumstances, the House continues to demonstrate its commitment to preserving successful, results-driven programs and helping each department operate more effectively. I have summarized the highlights of the House education budget below, including the changes made to the House Ways and Means budget through the consolidated amendment.

Early Education and Care:

3000-5000 Head Start

The consolidated amendment increases funding for Head Start from $7.5M to $8M. Head Start, a federal-to-local school-readiness program, provides comprehensive services to families in the Commonwealth living at or below the poverty level. In 2011, over 16,000 children received a quality early education through the 30 Head Start grantees within the Commonwealth. In the last few years, Head Start and Early Head Start enrollment has grown by 920 children statewide, resulting in approximately 2,760 family members receiving support and services. The increased funding for this line item will help Head Start grantees to meet the needs of these additional children and families.

3000-5075 Universal Pre-Kindergarten

The consolidated amendment includes language changes for this line item that will help the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to integrate its Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program with its recently implemented Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). For FY13, EEC will require current UPK programs to be at Level 3 or higher in QRIS in order to be eligible to compete for continued funding. With the language adopted in the consolidated amendment, new applicants seeking UPK grants will no longer need to be accredited to be eligible to apply for funding. Rather, applicants must now fall within the quality standards established by QRIS. This language change will provide more flexibility in supporting quality preschool programs that are serving children with high needs.

3000-7000 Children’s Trust Fund

The consolidated amendment restores funding for the Healthy Families Massachusetts Home Visiting Program (HFM) of the Children’s Trust Fund. HFM provides home visiting services to first time parents under age 21. The additional funding will enable the Children’s Trust Fund to continue working with Tufts University on an independent evaluation of HFM to determine outcomes for participating families. The second phase of the study includes a randomized control trial that will provide further evidence demonstrating that home visiting for newborns is an effective strategy for strengthening families and preventing child abuse.

3000-7050 Parent Child Home Program

The consolidated amendment includes language naming the Parent Child Home Program (PCHP) in this line item. PCHP is an evidence-based early childhood literacy, parenting, and school readiness program. With 30 sites in over 80 cities and towns across the Commonwealth, PCHP provides critical services to 670 families facing multiple risk factors. 70% of the children involved in PCHP currently do not access any other type of early education and care, thus demonstrating the importance of PCHP in providing services to some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable families. Through naming PCHP, we recognize it as a crucial piece of the Commonwealth’s early education and care system.

Elementary and Secondary Education:

7009-6400 Gateway Cities English Language Learners Programs

This new line item provides funding for grants to Gateway City communities to develop programs specifically designed to give middle and high school English Language Learners (ELLs) more time and support to acquire English language skills. The consolidated amendment includes language requiring that $850,000 be reserved for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement a new training and professional development program for teachers of ELL students, known as the RETELL initiative (“Rethinking Equity & Teaching for English Language Learners”). The RETELL initiative accompanies a series of regulation changes currently underway and is designed to address problems identified this past summer by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which found that the state has “failed to take appropriate action to overcome ELL students’ language barriers by not requiring SEI teachers to receive category or other SEI training”. The Department is currently moving expeditiously to address the shortcomings identified by the DOJ and to improve ELL teacher training and preparation through the RETELL initiative; additional funding is needed to support this effort.

7009-6402 Career Centers in Gateway Cities

The consolidated amendment includes $500,000 to aid schools in Gateway Cities in establishing Career Academies and Education and Industry Coordinating Councils. Through providing opportunities for students to connect their academics with real-world experience, more students will be motivated to stay in school and to develop the skills necessary to enter college and the workforce.

7010-0005 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The consolidated amendment adds funds to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s line item for the oversight of education collaboratives. With the passage of Chapter 43 of the Acts of 2012, An Act relative to improving accountability and oversight of education collaboratives, DESE now has significant responsibilities for the oversight of collaboratives. This funding is critical to help ensure that the abuse and mismanagement of taxpayer funds at some collaboratives is not repeated, and that collaboratives help school districts serve students in a cost effective manner.

7035-0035 AP Math and Science Initiative

This consolidated amendment provides $1.75 million for a new line item to increase participation and performance in AP courses, particularly among underserved populations. This is an increase of $750,000 over the HWM budget. The programs that provide these services have increased student enrollment in AP courses and leverage private funds to maximize our public investment. Further, research is showing that an increased number of low income minority students are passing AP courses and exams with a score of 3 or better since the inception of these programs in 2008, thus preparing them for success in college and careers. This investment will ensure the stability of programs currently at work in districts across the state.

7010-0012 METCO

The consolidated amendment increases funding for the METCO line itemby $1.5 million, which amounts to a $500,000 increase over the current FY12 level. It also adds language to require that METCO grant applications include a detailed line item budget consistent with past practice.

7027-0019 School-to-Career Connecting Activities

This line item provides funding to local workforce investment boards to connect at-risk students with jobs and internships in businesses and hospitals throughout the state. It is currently the only statewidemechanism that supports career development activities connected to classroom teaching and learning, resulting in lower dropout rates, increased academic performance, and decreased participation in the juvenile justice system. The consolidated amendment increases funding for this line item by $770,000, which represents a $20,000 increase over the current FY12 level. It also restores language allowing for grants to be awarded to “workforce investment boards or other local public-private partnerships” in order to ensure that funding for the connecting activities program can continue to flow through the local workforce investment boards as it currently does.

7030-1002 Kindergarten Expansion Grants

The House budget includes a $2M increase in funding over FY12. Attending a quality full day kindergarten program plays a significant role in improving academic outcomes, especially for children facing significant risk factors. Expanding access to full day kindergarten for additional children will help to improve student’s social emotional development, literacy, and quantitative skills, and ultimately help close the achievement gap by 3^rd grade.

7035-0002 Adult Basic Education

The consolidated amendment adds $750,000 to the Adult Basic Education line item. The Adult Basic Education account funds education programs for adult learners, including GED, basic literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Citizenship classes for adults throughout the commonwealth.

7035-0005 Homeless Transportation

The House budget includes $11.3M for the transportation of homeless students. The state’s participation in the federal McKinney-Vento program has resulted in a large burden placed on municipalities for the transportation and education of homeless students. Impacted communities include both the communities hosting homeless students and the communities from which students originate. Because of the limited amount of yearly funding for this from the federal government, the state must provide financial support to affected municipalities.

7035-0006 Regional School Transportation

The House budget increases regional school transportation funding by $1.9 million over FY12. This increase will help provide additional support to many communities throughout the Commonwealth that rely heavily on this funding to subsidize the significant transportation costs peculiar to regional districts. Regional school district transportation reimbursement is not only an essential source of financial aid for regional school districts, but it is also one of the few incentives the state provides school districts to regionalize.

7061-0008 Chapter 70 Aid

The House budget increases chapter 70 aid to local school districts by $163 million over FY12, and ensures that every city and town receives an increase in funding. Each district will receive an increase of at least $40 per pupil over FY12. This provides much needed support to our schools. Additionally, the House budget includes a line item for municipal improvement grants (1599-0026) which provides $1 million for a competitive grant program for school districts whose chapter 70 aid is lower than their target level of aid.

7061-0012 Special Education Circuit Breaker

The House Budget funds the Circuit Breaker account at $221.6 million, which represents an $8.5 million increase over FY12. This increase would enable the state to reimburse districts approximately 68% of their special education costs. As with Chapter 70 aid, circuit breaker funding is a critically important resource for communities across the state and benefits all districts.

7061-0033 Federal Aid for Military Families

The consolidated amendment provides $1.3 million to make up for a shortfall in federal impact aid for towns that educate children of families on military reservations. Federal impact aid is meant to assist local school districts with concentrations of children living on military bases and other Federal properties. However, the Federal Impact Aid office has not been fully funding this program in recent years.

7061-0928 & Outside Section 89: Financial Literacy

The FY13 House budget includes $250K to create a pilot program on financial literacy for schools in Gateway cities. It’s essential that students learn basic concepts such as budgeting and saving in order to function and be successful in today’s economy. This program provides funding through a competitive grant program to high schools serving some of the Commonwealth’s most at risk students. The consolidated amendment includes language ensuring that the line item on financial literacy is in alignment with the timeline in Outside Section 89, which also outlines a financial literacy pilot program in Gateway Cities and creates an Advisory Committee to oversee the pilot program. This technical change will ensure that there will be no confusion in the implementation of this pilot program.

7061-9404 MCAS Low-Scoring Student Support

The consolidated amendment provides additional funding for academic support services to enable students who have low scores on MCAS tests to earn a Competency Determination and qualify for a high school diploma. These programs have proven results, with participants 1.6 times more likely to pass the grade 10 ELA and Mathematics MCAS tests than students who were eligible for services but did not participate. This funding is critical to closing achievement gaps and helping prevent students from dropping out of school.

7061-9412 Expanded Learning Time

The consolidated amendment increases funding for this line item by $250K. Schools receiving grants through this line item are expanding school time by at least 300 hours per year. With this additional time, schools work to improve student outcomes in core academic subjects, increase enrichment opportunities, and improve instruction by adding more planning and professional development time for teachers.

7061-9614 Alternative Education Grants

The consolidated amendment restores the Alternative Education line item and appropriates $146,140, which represents level funding over FY12. This account supports two grant programs which provide funding for schools to develop and maintain alternative education programs and pathways for disengaged students who are at-risk of dropping out. This funding is an important resource for schools and plays an integral role in the state’s dropout prevention and recovery strategy.

7061-9626 Youth Build

The consolidated amendment includes an additional $1M for Youth Build, a program which helps low-income young people ages 16-24 work toward their GEDs or high school diplomas, learn job skills, and serve their communities by building affordable housing. The increased funding will enable Youth Build programs across the state to continue helping young adults to gain the career and life skills needed to transform their own lives and their communities.

7061-9634 Mass Mentoring Partnership

The consolidated amendment includes an additional $100K for the Mass Mentoring Partnership. This program is the only statewide organization solely dedicated to strategically expanding quality youth mentoring in Massachusetts. This increased funding will help to support 20 full-time jobs at youth mentoring programs and create and support at least 800 mentoring relationships in Massachusetts.

7061-9810 Regional Bonus Aid

The consolidated amendment reinstates the Regional Bonus Aid line item and appropriates $251,950 for regional bonus aid pursuant to MGL 71:16D (g). This line item was first established last year in the FY12 budget and provides direct funding to newly-established regional school districts to help offset the up-front costs associated with transitioning to a regional district. All regional school districts that formed after FY’93 would be eligible to receive this funding for the immediate five years following the establishment of the regional school district. This regional bonus aid would be paid to the new regional districts according to the following formula: $50 per foundation enrollment in the first fiscal year (following the establishment of said regional school district); $40 per foundation enrollment in the second fiscal year; $30 per foundation enrollment in the third fiscal; $20 per foundation enrollment in the fourth fiscal year; and $10 dollars per foundation enrollment in the fifth fiscal year.

Higher Education:

7066-0024 Mass Academy of Math and Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The consolidated amendment adds an additional $100K for the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This school provides a place for exceptional students to access advanced courses in math and science, among other topics, and to take college level courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Additional funding will support more students interested in partaking in this impressive academic experience.

Libraries:

7000-9101 Board of Library Commissioners

The consolidated amendment includes language allowing Fitchburg to meet requirements so that it may receive state aid to libraries.

7000-9401 State Aid to Regional Libraries

The consolidated amendment provides an additional $100,000 for state aid to regional libraries, and requires the Board of Library Commissioners to provide funds for the continued operation of a single regional library system.

Outside Sections:

Out-of-State Student Revenue for C766 Schools

The consolidated amendment adds an outside section to allow the operational services division (OSD) to issue annual tuition rates, with annual inflation increases, for out-of-state students who attend C766 schools. In the past, the Legislature has provided temporary authority for OSD to adjust tuition prices for out-of-state purchasers by the rate of inflation by including such language in the budget; however, this language was not included in the FY13 HWM budget.

Vocational Technical Schools and the Drop Out Rate

The consolidated amendment includes an outside section requiring the department of education to file a report with the legislature examining the high school dropout rates for students denied entry to vocational technical schools. It will be helpful to know how the increasing exclusivity of vocational technical schools is correlated to the dropout rate.

Vocational technical education

The consolidated amendment includes language on improving vocational technical education, the majority of which comes from H. 1082, An Act relative to vocational technical education, which the Education Committee redrafted and reported out favorably. The bill adds representatives from the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators to trade boards and creates a commission to study the feasibility of authorizing public vocational technical schools to award post-secondary associates degrees. The outside section adopted on Monday also includes a paragraph which establishes a program to expand not-for-credit vocationally-oriented instruction provided through contracts with Massachusetts employers.

Education Related items:

4513-1020 Early Intervention

Early Intervention in Massachusetts is a developmental service available to families of children ages birth to three that helps children to acquire the skills they need to continue to grow into happy and healthy members of the community. The Governor’s and House budgets both include a transfer of $5M from the EI line item to the Mass Health line item (4000-0700), which includes coverage for Early Intervention Autism services. The consolidated amendment on Public Health increases funding for the Early Intervention line item by $1.3M over the HWM budget appropriation. Additional funding for early intervention will undoubtedly be helpful in serving children with development delays and will certainly pay off in reduced special education costs in the K-12 system.

4590-0250 School-based Health Centers

School based health centers and school nurses help to decrease student absences and ensure that children remain in class, ready to learn. The consolidated amendment on Public Health increases funding for this line item to $11, 332, 301, representing a $200K increase over the HWM budget. Language was also restored to enable non-public schools to access grants funded through this line item.

5920-3010 Autism Medicaid Waiver

The FY13 House budget appropriates $4,633,316 for the Autism Division, a $12,139 increase over FY12, and includes a $3 million earmark for the Autism Medicaid Waiver. The consolidated Amendment (“Consolidated G”) also includes language to require the department of developmental disabilities to ensure that the Autism Medicaid waiver program is fully enrolled and that such eligible children immediately begin to receive services once enrolled. The Autism Medicaid Waiver program provides intensive in-home services to approximately 160 young children with autism at risk of institutionalization. Studies show that early intensive services immensely increase the progress of children with autism in developing social and communication skills, and can result in estimated cost savings ranging from $187,000 to $203,000 per child ages 3-22, and a total lifetime savings range of $1-2 million.

Outside Section Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

The consolidated amendment on Health and Human Services includes a section creating a special commission for the purpose of studying and making recommendations concerning services for unaccompanied homeless youth age 22 and under. The goal of this Commission is ensuring a comprehensive and effective response to the unique needs of this population. This Commission, whose membership includes the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will help homeless youth facing significant challenges to be better served and connected to resources.

Higher Education:

Operating line items for public higher education institutions: Provides a total of approximately $818 million for the operating line items for our public higher education institutions ($418 million for the University of Massachusetts (UMASS), $191.5 million for the state universities, and $208.6 million for the community colleges). This is essentially the same level as FY 2012. A chart is attached with a breakdown by institution. The House Budget maintains the operating line items for each of our public higher education institutions, including the community colleges, which helps ensure greater transparency since amounts for each institution are publicly set forth in the annual budget.

Reserve accounts for collective bargaining: Establishes reserve accounts under the executive office for administration and finance, funded at a total of approximately $49.1 million, to help meet the FY 2013 collective bargaining costs at the community colleges, state universities, and UMASS. These are critical funds that we were not able to provide in FY 2012. ($23.6 million will go to the community colleges and state universities; $25.5 million will go to UMASS).

State Scholarship/Financial Aid line item: Provides a total of $87,607,756 for the state’s scholarship/financial aid line item (7070-0065). This is the same level as FY 2012. It is an increase of $1.1 million, which was added by the consolidated amendment for education and local aid, over the amount initially included in the House Ways and Means Budget. The department of higher education estimates that this line item helps nearly 100,000 needy Massachusetts’ students afford higher education.

State University Internship Incentive Grant Program: Establishes a new “State University Internship Incentive Program” and funds it at $1 million under the department of higher education line item (7066-0000). This program was added by the consolidated amendment for education and local aid. The program is to be a matching grant program ($1 in state funds for every $1 in private funds; with a cap of $1 million in state funds).

Performance Management Set Aside Incentive Program: Increases the existing Performance Management Set-Aside Incentive Program (line item 7066-0025), a grant program administered by the department of higher education, from its FY 2012 level of $2.5 million to $7.5 million. In so doing, it earmarks the $5 million increase for grants to community colleges to be used to support initiatives to promote higher completion rates, promote the adoption of a standard core of course offerings and numbering that are honored for common credit toward degrees and certificates across the colleges and universities, and to promote consolidation and coordination of administrative functions and procurement across the community colleges.

Chairs of the community colleges boards of trustees: Allows the governor to appoint the chair of the boards of trustees of the community colleges, who must be from the region where the college is located. (Section 30).

Boards of trustees community colleges/vocational-technical school boards: Requires that each community college board of trustees must include a vocational-technical school trustee representative from the region as a non-voting member. And requires that designated members from the boards of trustees from the community colleges be non-voting members of the district trustees for vocational-technical schools. (Sections 30, 31 & 39).

Appointment of presidents: Formalizes participation by the board of higher education (BHE) in the process for selecting the presidents of the community colleges and state universities by requiring that the BHE appoint 1 voting member on any search committee for a new president to assist in the search. (Section 33). (Under current law, the BHE must approve the appointment of, compensation for, and removal of these presidents.) The House Budget also requires that, in the case of the community colleges, the BHE issue guidelines and procedures for the search, selection, appointment, compensation, evaluation, and removal of the presidents of the community colleges. (Section 91).

Community college workforce grant advisory committee: Establishes a new community college workforce grant advisory committee to provide recommendations to the BHE on community colleges workforce grants to be awarded from the Community College Fund established by the Speaker and the House in the gaming law enacted last year to be funded by licensing revenues. (Section 88). It is projected that these funds will total $47 million (over 4-5 years): amounting to an additional $12 million a year for workforce development efforts at our community colleges.

Community colleges workforce grants: Community colleges workforce grants mentioned above are intended to be used by the community colleges to promote the development of workforce training programs and partnerships with business and industry, other educational and training institutions, labor organizations, and other organizations supporting workforce development. Grants are to be used to ensure that the workforce development programs at our community colleges are up-to-date, and meet the needs of current and future businesses and industries: helping to ensure that this state’s workforce continues to remain its major competitive advantage. (Section 88).

Community colleges funding formula: Requires that the commissioner of higher education, in consultation with the presidents of the community colleges, develop a funding formula for the community colleges based, in part, for the first time, on performance. (Section 87). The consolidated amendment for education and local aid required that representatives from the Massachusetts Teachers Association also be consulted in the development of the funding formula.

Report: Requires that the commissioner of higher education submit a report, including the funding formula, and other recommendations relative to the promotion of stable, equitable funding for the community colleges, including efforts to contain the growth of student costs and borrowing. The report must be submitted by December 1, 2012, to the house and senate ways and means committees, the joint committee on higher education, and the executive office for administration and finance. (Section 87).

Credit for military occupations, training, and experience: The consolidated amendment for veterans services and soldiers’ homes added a new outside section to the House Budget that amends Chapter 15A of the General Laws to require that the BHE develop and adopt a written policy requiring each public higher education institution to develop a set of policies and procedures governing the evaluation of a student’s military occupation (s), and military training, coursework, and experience for the purpose of determining whether academic credit will be awarded by the institution for this experience, training, and coursework. The occupation (s), training and experience, or courses must meet certain standards for awarding credit and the award of credit must be based upon each institution’s admission standards and be consistent with the mission of the Commonwealth’s system of public higher education. Also requires each public higher education institution to designate a single point of contact for students who are veterans to help them initiate and pursue such evaluations of potential credit.

Student Entrepreneurial Development and Economic Investment Fund: The consolidated amendment for business and economic development added a new outside section to the House Budget amending Chapter 23A to establish a “Student Entrepreneurial Development and Economic Investment Fund” to provide opportunities for students to gain experience in entrepreneurialism and early-stage business development while fostering an economic environment that will attract students to the state and forge a relationship between the public higher education system and the business community. The fund is to be used to provide grants for prototype funding of Massachusetts’ students ideas in early development stages that they are developing in the state.